AMHERST – Imagine a farmer’s market but taken inside so that people can shop six days a week instead of one or two and buy soaps and oils, salsa and wool rugs, along with fresh greens or dairy products.

That’s the concept behind All Things Local Cooperative Market, which opened downtown late this fall in what is called a soft start-up with little fanfare. “We’re still trying to adjust things,” said general manager Al Sax.

While nearly 500 have become members, one need not join to shop there. Vendors, however, have to be members.

There are one-and-a-half paid staff including Sax. Volunteers pick up the slack in staffing.
The store is modeled after the Local Roots Market & Café in Wooster, Ohio, which also relies on volunteers and sells its Ohio products on consignment. “It’s a very interesting model because it is so volunteer driven. It’s a shared-risk model,” he said.

Al Sax, general manager of the Amherst coop All Things Local, adjusts some bags of locally grown flour. The store recently opened in downtown Amherst. Diane Lederman/ The Republican

The store here features products made or raised within a 100-mile radius of the shop, said Sax said. Most are produced much closer, he said.

Those who sell goods set the price and earn 80 percent of that. But that also means they are in charge of tending to their goods. “We help sell their products, they (vendors) have to take responsibility,” he said.
“Producers are taking some of the risk too (but) getting a better return.”

Pat Mulvaney was restocking the soaps and oils that he and his wife, Dawn, produce for the Sunderland-based company Parnella Naturals.

They mostly sell from the company web site and at some shows but decided to try selling at the market.

“It’s been great,” he said. “It gives us some exposure.” At the same time “we’re still in charge of our products.” The products are selling well, Sax said.
At the store, they offer “a diversity of products, a diversity of produce, a diversity of price points,” Sax said.

The shop sells locally grown flour from Four Star Farm in Northfield, beef from Mockingbird Farm in Easthampton and all kinds of greens, potatoes, squash, honey, maple syrup, fresh breads, among the offerings that continue to grow.

The store opened in space formerly occupied by Souper Bowl and it plans to expand into space next door now occupied by Food For Thought Books. The bookshop is looking to cut its space in half.

“We’re really lucky getting this location on Main Street,” Sax said. There’s parking in the back, which makes it easy for people to get to.
Amanda Wasserman is running the café aimed mainly for people to take food to go. There are few tables.